Province look to kick on
13 Aug 2009
WP need to improve their kicking game if they are to realistically challenge for the Currie Cup title.
Injury and illness have depleted Boland significantly, but WP coach Allister Coetzee has dismissed all talk of a one-sided blowout. For starters, WP are intent on playing a territorial game, and any try scored by the visitors will have roots in this approach.
WP need to improve their accuracy and Coetzee told keo.co.za the task is that much tougher with premier tactical kicker Willem de Waal out injured. He stressed the value of a sound kicking game, citing the Springboks’ recent success in the Tri-Nations as an example.
‘Do the Springboks run it from everywhere? Have the All Blacks been effective in running it from everywhere? No they haven’t. The Boks have a great tactical kicking game and have been successful in applying pressure from that. With a good kick-chase, you can affect turnovers,’ said Coetzee.
‘It’s always challenging going to Wellington because of the heavy underfoot conditions and because they’re our neighbours. We need to ensure we are accurate, because this game has proved a banana peel in the past.
‘No matter how many injuries they have, we won’t underestimate them.’
Again, Coetzee stressed it was individual errors rather than errant team systems that cost WP the game in Kimberley.
‘We’re looking for better decision-making from our kickers this weekend. We are hoping for an improvement against Boland, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. How we make decisions and how we execute our kicks will determine our efficiency.’
The pressure is on halfbacks Dewald Duvenhage and Peter Grant to deliver, while Joe Pietersen’s boot should also be required in this capacity. WP will have to do without De Waal’s trusty left foot for another two months, so the aforementioned players need to step up sooner rather than later.
The Boland Stadium has become notorious for shocking field conditions, but Coetzee believes these conditions have improved since 2008. The mud proved to be a great leveller in last year’s competition with visiting teams struggling on an uneven paddock.
‘I know Boland have put a lot of money into repairing their field and there does seem to be more grass than there was last year. Last year, there was just plenty of mud.
‘I have learnt my lesson and I will go out to Wellington to assess the conditions beforehand, but at the moment there is a good weather forecast for Saturday. It will still be heavy underfoot, but it will be manageable.’
By Jon Cardinelli
23 Comments
13 Aug 2009, 06:47 am
Probbbbbbbbbbbblleemmmmmmmmmmmsssssssss Dragons
13 Aug 2009, 06:53 am
A union that has it all, except a trophy in the cabinet of course:).
13 Aug 2009, 08:21 am
#2 Lions_Soutie: No different to the Lions, then. Except, of course, that Province have had a trophy in their cabinet more recently than the Lions and, in total, have accumulated many, many, many (really a lot) more trophies in their history than the Lions.
13 Aug 2009, 08:59 am
I hope De Waal stays injured for longer and that Peter Grant takes his kicking in open play and for goals serious, Its good backline we have there.
13 Aug 2009, 09:11 am
#3 Windhoek.Lager: Agreed .. WP and the lions are on the same level… (evil Grin)
13 Aug 2009, 09:57 am
#4 XhosaKid: I agree… Think Grant needs to focus his attention to flyhalf and his kicking game…
I also feel that Conrad Hoffman needs to be given more game time… He is a great kicking scrumhalf tactically and with more practice, can be a lethal goal-kicker!
13 Aug 2009, 09:58 am
Although, I must say… Duvenage has been consistantly good at 9 for WP!
13 Aug 2009, 10:13 am
Has Allister proven himself as a coach?
13 Aug 2009, 10:30 am
I used to be an avid Province supporter but I must admit I’ve completely lost interest in them lately. Does anyone else feel this way?
13 Aug 2009, 10:34 am
#9 Yetirat: Become a Bulls Supporter and enjoy the feeling of winning trophy’s
13 Aug 2009, 10:39 am
#10 Airwell:
Haha…shame I could never do that my precious Province. It just seems like the whole Union is a complete shambles at the moment. I do much prefer watching the Bulls play at the moment though, I’ll admit that.
13 Aug 2009, 11:02 am
#8 Staal: for me he has not done so.
he was with the boks for a long time,and it seems like he wasnt really doing much there,it wasnt like hour back line was setting the world on fire constantly,and the same with province.
i also dont rate newman, there is so much talk of him,but i have not seen anything to get excited about either.
its time for wp to step up,there is loads of good players there,they just need to pull together.
13 Aug 2009, 11:05 am
#6 Gambit25: agree,conrad should get more game time,personally,i think bolla’s days are over,its time to make way for a new player,but will this ever happen?
he has been a faithful servant for wp rugby over the years,but them days are fast becoming an after thought
13 Aug 2009, 11:09 am
#10 Airwell: hehe that is the best solution for sure … Bulls rule … even with our f team we stil beat these guys … must say Cheaters and stormpies the biggest dissapointment of the currie cup … they should be 1 & 2 (they practicly have their s14 team )
13 Aug 2009, 11:15 am
#14 BLUERUGGA1: the bulls have one thing going for them,and will work for them for a long time,the structures HM put into plays,its still paying dividends.
if more unions can get him on board,to sort their structures out,it will be great for sa rugby in the long haul.
it seems like the only union with depth is the bulls.
i can only hope and pray for structures in wp rugby…
13 Aug 2009, 11:22 am
#15 toe-jam: I agree 100% …. ludeke and pdv are in the same boat imo… structures and planning of previous coaches paying off hope they get their arses in gear… must admit that the bulls look much better eversince the new backline coach arrived and pdv has added a bit of flair
13 Aug 2009, 15:15 pm
#14 BLUERUGGA1:
Not so much of a disappointment I think. Third is not too bad, and after this weekend we will be 2nd or 3rd again. Lost to the Bulls at Loftus, I mean no shame in that. THEN lost to a team that has beaten EVERYBODY else, away again. Beat the cup holders, beat the most successful CC team of the last decade…
Lions also lost a lot of players hey! I mean, Jaques Fourie and… oops!!! Not a disappointment???
Plus, “stormpies” playing with their S14 team, bra, what have you been smoking. No Percy, Jantjies, Bobo, Jean, Dys Fountain, Ricky (for better or worse), Schalk, Bekker, Mujati, Fondse and Brits.
Ja, a team with a brand new center combo and lock pair, along with 6 other first choice players not playing is EXACTLY the same as the one that played in the S14.
Typical BlueBull, loves to bash province even at the cost of intelligence (not that its a HUGE loss!!!)
Idiot…
13 Aug 2009, 15:28 pm
De Waal out for 2 months…mmmm?
Could turn out to be a bit of a blessing. Grant must just take a leaf from Steyns book. Steyn used to be a running flyhalf and for this reason was overlooked for the sake of “liefling” (***!!!) who has a better kicking game. Grant has had enough time to get his gat in rat. Now he has Boland (one game) to find his stride.
Province is on a fast track to having one of the best packs in the comp. I would say that beyond doubt the lock paring for this game is one of the, if not the, most potent of the weekend. Add to that one of the better hookers and solid props…
I would like to see De Joghn play at 12 and then get him ready for when JF comes to the Cape. Also, I really hope JJ comes on and has a blinder, thus FINALLY making sure that Nakakalavuki never plays again. Drop Aplon for JJ and the back three will look a lot more balanced.
I still say it will be a Bulls-WP final at Loftus, though the Kwas could put a spanner in that wheel.
13 Aug 2009, 15:41 pm
agree toe jam. I dont rate Newman at all either. He’s done nothing to warrant all the hype, i think it would be good to pair De Jongh and JF in the S14, as De Jongh could be a very good centre. But we mustnt rush him, he’s only 20, plus we need De Waal’s kicking ability, and Grant was making progress at 12
13 Aug 2009, 16:44 pm
I got no words for these sorry bunch of as$holes, they just better make sure they get their house in order against boland.
13 Aug 2009, 16:48 pm
I hope duvenage start all the games in the s14 next season with peter grant as his flyhalf.pg just need more time with percy or even better yet with vlok cilliers. he did play 7′s for wp afterall.
13 Aug 2009, 17:10 pm
#9 Yetirat: No! As an avid WP supporter I will never lose interest…
13 Aug 2009, 17:14 pm
#17 Greenpoint-Gunner: Bulls and Intelligence. Now those are two words that don’t seem to sit very well together…
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